Germany to provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros
Post Date – 11:30 PM, Saturday – 5/13/23
AP Photo
Berlin: Germany will provide Ukraine with additional military aid worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, air defense systems and ammunition, the government said on Saturday.
The announcement comes as Berlin prepares for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first visit to Germany since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin wanted to show with the latest arms package that “Germany is serious about supporting” Ukraine.
“As long as it is needed, Germany will provide all the help it can,” he said.
While Zelensky’s visit on Sunday has not been officially confirmed, it will signal a marked improvement in relations between Ukraine and Germany after a difficult period.
Kiev had long been skeptical of Germany’s dependence on Russian energy and its support for the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which bypassed Ukraine, which was defended by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Her successor, Olaf Schulz, agreed to phase out Russian energy imports after the invasion, but was initially hesitant to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons, fearing Germany would be drawn into the conflict.
Berlin has been given a diplomatic cold shoulder from Kiev as Washington, Warsaw and London have more openly supported Ukraine’s self-defense efforts.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was rescinded by Ukraine last year, sparking resentment in Germany, which points to its substantial financial aid to Kiev and the hosting of more than a million Ukrainian refugees.
Scholz eventually visited Kiev in June, along with French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders.
Although slow to provide military aid, Germany has become one of Ukraine’s largest arms suppliers and crucially, it contributes to the delivery of modern main battle tanks such as its own Leopard 1 and 2, as well as the advanced air defense needed to defend The system gave the green light. Turn off drone and missile attacks.
The new military aid package, first reported by German weekly Der Spiegel, includes 30 Leopard 1 A5 tanks, 20 Marder armored personnel carriers, more than 100 combat vehicles, 18 self-propelled howitzers, 200 drones, 4 IRIS-T SLM anti-missile aircraft system and other air defense equipment.
Earlier, Ukrainian military commanders said their forces had retaken more territory from Russian forces near the eastern city of Bakhmut amid speculation that Kiev might launch a counteroffensive.
The Ukrainian president is due to arrive from Rome, where he will meet Pope Francis and Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni on Saturday.
Berlin police confirmed last week that they were preparing for Zelenskyy’s possible visit, and on Sunday set up a security cordon across much of the capital’s government district.
After meeting with Scholz and other senior officials at the Chancellery, the two leaders are expected to fly to the western city of Aachen, where Zelensky will accept the International Charlemagne Award awarded to him and the Ukrainian people.
Organizers said the award recognized their resistance to Russian aggression “not only to defend the sovereignty of their countries and the lives of their citizens, but also to defend Europe and European values.” Zelensky last visited Berlin in July 2021.
He also attended the Munich Security Conference the following February, days before Russia launched an all-out offensive on Ukraine.
